| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: And here is another institution attributed to Lycurgus which scarcely
coincides with the customs elsewhere in vogue. A hunting party returns
from the chase, belated. They want provisions--they have nothing
prepared themselves. To meet this contingency he made it a rule that
owners[6] are to leave behind the food that has been dressed; and the
party in need will open the seals, take out what they want, seal up
the remainder, and leave it. Accordingly, by his system of give-and-
take even those with next to nothing[7] have a share in all that the
country can supply, if ever they stand in need of anything.
[6] Reading {pepamenous}, or if {pepasmenous}, "who have already
finished their repasts."
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The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Charmides by Plato: in learning is learning quietly and slowly?
True.
And is it not better to teach another quickly and energetically, rather
than quietly and slowly?
Yes.
And which is better, to call to mind, and to remember, quickly and readily,
or quietly and slowly?
The former.
And is not shrewdness a quickness or cleverness of the soul, and not a
quietness?
True.
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